Ohio Caverns 2

Around Ohio

The picture below shows one of the iron oxide formations that add color to the ceiling throughout much of the caverns. Although the dim lighting in the caves masks some of the bright colors, they come out quite clearly when exposed to a camera flash.

Iron Oxide Formations

One of the more unusual formations in the cave is shown below. It is called a helictite because of its unusual shape. It seems to resemble a water spigot or old hand pump.

 

Water Spigot

Ohio Caverns: Crystal King

Around Ohio

The Crystal King is the largest stalactite found in the Ohio Caverns. With a length of almost five feet and an estimated weight of 400 pounds, it is also one of the largest stalactites in Ohio. The Crystal King is found at the deepest point in the cave from the surface.

 

Crystal King

The stalactites and stalagmites in the photo below reminded me of a shark's mouth. The minerals in this picture are known as dual formations because they consist of calcite stalactites growing on an iron oxide base.

Shark's Mouth

Ohio Caverns

Around Ohio

Located in western Ohio, the Ohio Caverns showcases some amazing crystal formations spread throughout a maze of winding tunnels. The abundance of crystals, which have taken thousands of years to form, makes the caverns unique.

As with most underground passages, the majority of the Ohio Cavern's tunnels are quite narrow, but the picture below shows a slightly larger area. The oranges and browns on the ceiling are caused by aqueous iron that trickles down through the rock above and oxidizes when it reaches the cave ceiling.

Crystal Cave 

This next shot depicts a more tunnel-like part of the caverns. When the caves were first discovered, most of the tunnels were partially obstructed by mud and other sediment, which had to be cleared away to make the passageways passable.

 

Rocky Passage